I'll be leaving for London next week and have kind of an oddball question. Shopping for pants has been the bane of my existence. I think this is partially because of my height (5'2" or 1.57 m) and partially because my waist/hip ratio doesn't seem to match whatever model designers use. I'm actually a normal weight for my height, I just don't tend to fill out the hips in most pants that I try on. (I know - I'm a hideous freak of nature). <BR><BR>Because of this I generally need to find a petite size, with a low rise (i.e., starts below the waist). I also prefer stretch pants. I don't mean skin-tight; they just have a little more give and are more comfortable if proportions don't match exactly. <BR><BR>Probably more than you wanted to know, but anyway I went shopping last week (live in Washington, DC area) and could not find ANY pants that I liked. I thought that, since I was going to London next week, that I might try there. Any recommendations for shops in London? I usually spend about 70 USD on pants.

Hi Vita,<BR>I'm sure that you will be able to find something to suit at Marks and Spencer!<BR>Regards<BR>Maggie

First of all-I think you might want to call them trousers,in London they refer to underwear as pants<BR>You mean you don't have wide hips??? if so that means I must hate you.<BR>But I am asking my friend who is tall and thin and buys great clothes that are not expensive and then I will write back..oh Vita, you will have so much fun! Just do not expect to find anything in Harrods that is reasonable costwise!

One thing to remember about UK trouser sizes is that they run a size smaller than US pants sizes. I remember buying a pair of jeans at Marks & Spencer and that I had to buy a size larger than I usually buy at home. This also made me feel like a fatso, but what can you do? Can't advise you on the hip part, however, as I usually have the opposite problem where the pants fit at the hip but are too loose at the waist. <BR><BR>Happy shopping!

Well, I don't know about pants purchases but I bought a jacket at Debenham's and a couple of tops in a Dorothy Perkins shop (nothing expensive, just t-top like shirts). We ran into a spell of warm weather and I needed "cooler" tops! Sizes are really different, you just need to try on everything, take a variety of sizes into the dressing room.<BR>Marks & Spencer has a lot of stuff, likewise any of the major dept. stores, but it is really a chore to shop overseas for clothes I've found because of the size issue.

Vita,<BR>It sounds as if you have a waist/hip ratio that is PERFECT for finding trousers in England. In general, I found that if you have a small waist and larger caboose, you can't find any trousers in England that will fit, unless they are the stretch variety. Same for skirts. If the hips fit, the waist will be yards too big. <BR><BR>Like the last poster said, the size numbers are different. A U.S. size 8 is a U.K. size 10. About the same difference with shoes, but the other way around, if memory serves.<BR><BR>There are loads of department stores and small shops along Oxford Street to find trousers, not the least of which is Selfridges.<BR><BR>Like the first poster said, don't call them "pants" or you'll be sent to the underwear section.

Hi Vita-my fashionable friend in London says to go to Next.she gave me this web address for you to see what it is like now-www.next.co.uk<BR>Also she recommended Marks and Spencer who also has a web site.<BR>Have fun~kate

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